Billet-loop.



- No. 886,575. PATEN'IED MAY 5, 190s.

e. '1). BAILY.

BILLET LOOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1907.

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UNITED STATES PAET OFFICE.

GEORGE D. BAILY, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

BILLET-LOOP.

T all 2072017). it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. BAILY, citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of lVayne and. State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Billet-Loops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for securing billets or the loose ends of straps, the purpose being to devise a novel form of billet oop which will admit of the loose end of the strap being quickly secured or released without necessitating the passing of the same through the loop or withdrawing it therefrom as required by the ordinary loop and which at times is not practical because of the stiffness of the stra and the comparatively short length thereof, hence the loose end of the strap projects outward and is a source of annoyance particularly when located u on parts of harness to catch the mane or tai of the horse or to engage-with the driving lines.

The resent invention provides a two-part loop w 1lCl1 is adapted to be opened and closed by a pivotal movement, thereby obviating the bending of the strap rendered necessary by the one-piece billet loo in order to insert or withdraw the billet or oose end of the stra For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit 01' essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a billet loop embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the billet loop, the members being swung open.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In accordance with this invention, the billet loop comprises two members which are pivotally connected at one end and adapted to be swung apart laterally at the opposite Specification of Letters Patent.-

Application filed May 8, 1907.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Serial No. 372,485.-

end. One of the members comprises a plate 1 and a hook at one end thereof, said hook comprising parts 2'and 3, the latter being para lel with the plate 1 and spaced therefrom and connected at one ed 'e by the part 2 to 'a corresponding edge of the plate 1. The other member comprises a plate 4 and an extension 5 at one edge thereof and which extension is adapted to close the space formed between the open side of the plate 1 and the part 3 of the complemental member. The plates 1 and 4 are adapted to overlap and are pivotally connected at 6. The part 3 corresponds to the outer side of the billet loop and the parts 2 and 5 to the side portions of said loop.

When the plate 1 is turned into a position about as shown in Fig. 4, the billet or loose end of the strap may be introduced or removed from the loop through the open side thereof which is closed by the extension 5 when the plates 1 and 4 are turned so as to he one against the other. The side portions 2 and 5 engage with opposite edges of the strap 7 and billet 8 and prevent lateral displacement thereof, whereas the part 3 confines the billet and prevents the same standing away from the strap 7 to be in the way and engage with the tail or parts of the harness. To prevent displacement of the members when closed, interlocking means are employed, the same consisting of a depression 9 in the plate 1, and a projection 10 on the plate 4, said projection entering the depression to retain the members in closed position until sufficient force is properly a plied to cause the projection to ride out o the depression when separating the members at their free ends. The pivot 6 may consist of an eyelet or fastening of any type and may also serve to connect the billet loop to the strap as well as secure the end of the strap after the same has been passed around the cross-bar of the buckle. A tongue 11 is partly pressed out from the member 4 and passes through the strap 7 and the folded end of said strap so as to secure said parts and to retain the member 4 in place, it being preferred to have one of the members relatively fixed and the other movable.

A billet loop constructed as herein set forth may be applied to straps either of harness or for other use where the billet or loose end is required to be confined after being engaged with the buckle. By swinging the member 1 to one side, the billet 8, or loose end of the stra is liberated and after the strap has been uckled, the member 1 may be swung into position to bring the confining ortions 3 of the loop over the billet 8 or oose end of the strap and thereby confine the same, displacement of the members being prevented by interlocking means formed between them. The construction is such that the billet may be conveniently and in stantly released or confined as may be reuired without necessitating the bending of t e strap as is usually required with the closed or one-piece billet loop, and which cannot always be effected, particularly when the billet is short and stiff.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A billet loop comprising complemental members, each consisting of a plate and a side extension, the plates being pivotally connected at one end and the side extensions being arranged at opposite sides of the plates to engage with opposite edge portions of a strap and billet when the plates are moved to an overlapped position, and one of said plates having a confining ortion to close the space formed between the aforesaid. side extensions and adapted to confine the billet.

2. A billet loop, comprising complemental members pivotally connected to swing in parallel planes, and confining extensions at o posite edges of the said members to close tl fe sides of the space through which the billet passes. v

3. In combination a strap having an end portion folded, a billet loop comprising complemental members having loop portions at one end, and a pivot fastening connecting said members to each other and to the strap and the folded portion thereof.

4. In combination a strap having a folded portion, a plate having a tongue near one end passed through the strap and having a side extension, a second plate having a hook which is adapted to be closed at its open side by the side extension of the first mentioned plate, and a pivot fastening connecting said plates to each other and to the strap and the folded end portion thereof.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE D. BAILY. [L. s.]

W itnesses:

C. H. EMMINGER, S. E. PIOKERING. 

